Image from the post on Mountain Bike Review by Jeff Steber.

Based upon Intense’s 951 model, this prototype has been dubbed the “2951″. No more information about the bike or how it might ride is available at this time, but we’re keeping an eye on this one.

Picture courtesy of Salsa Cycles Facebook page

The Salsa “Enabler” will accept a 135mm spaced hub, and the Surly Endomorph and upcoming Larry tire. The fork is fitted with two water bottle mounts, ala the Fargo, and has stainless steel forward facing drop outs. No word on whether it will be available for this winter, but we’ll be bringing you updates as they become available.

Now that has changed. WTB has designed a tire at the behest of Mike Curiak with influence from frame builders Walt Wehner and Devin Lenz to address the short comings of the Kodiak and be a “true” DH worthy tire. Introducing the WTB Dissent 29″er!

WTB will be producing these in the near future, but if riders are interested, they are encouraged to contact their local bike shops and distributors to let them know this is something that riders are interested in. By the way, knob to knob measurement is slightly over 2.5″. Casing is about 60mm. This is on a Salsa Gordo rim at 30 psi. (Thanks Mike Curiak for the info and photos!) The tires are said to have WTB’s “Inner Peace” flat protection beads. Look for more details soon.

No word on when the redesigned frame will bow, but it will feature the same geometry and travel for the rear as before. Colors announced are Vana White, Licorice Anodized, and Kermit Green. Look for more info in our upcoming Interbike coverage.

One of the bikes that will be checked out: The new Rumblefish.

Stay tuned for a full report afterwards on the newest additions to Gary Fisher Bikes 29″er line up for 2010.

Here we have the Intense Tracer 29″er we got a sneak peek of a few days ago with the production hydro-formed top tube. The green color was retained for this example and we like it.

Here’s a closer look at the rear swing arm. We are hearing it will have adjustable travel from 4.75″ to 5.75″. Any guesses as to where most folks will set their travel at on these? (We’re guessing at the longer end of the scale)

Kona’s 2010 Unit. With a sweet dark metallic green paint job, and very subtle graphics, this bike will belie it’s “caffeinated” nature. The spec sheet lists head tube angles either side of 73 degrees depending on size and a 45mm fork offset on the rigid, steel P2 fork.

We’ve had the new Santa Cruz Tall Boy on the site before. Eurobike was the official “coming out party” for this rig. Here’s a look at the sano rear triangle. This bike complete is over the 5K barrier, but we’re willing to bet the first run of these will be gone rather quickly.

Can you say “titanium”? This rig, under the brand name “Paduano”, an Italian maker, was shown with just about everything titanium you can imagine. Integrated seat mast, stem, bar ends, handle bar, fork, and with the addition of a belt drive, it should make for a very, very light bike. Paduano also makes a bike similar to the one in the backround with 29″er wheels that is a combination of titanium and carbon fiber.

Another Italian marque, Nevi, who have shown 29″ers before at Eurobike, return with this titanium example. A titanium fork with an integrated brace, apparently in an effort to intercept twisting forces, has a segmented crown. The rear modular drop outs are said to be movable to accommodate the swap to 26 inch wheels if desired.

Specialized, who brought an enormous display to Eurobike, had their full line up of 2010 29″ers on display.

The Felt booth had their aluminum hard tails on show. The Felt Nine Race is a mostly XT spec’ed bike that retails for $2499.99

The Felt Nine Comp is a mostly SRAM mix of X-5/X-7 and features a Manitou Drake suspension fork for a MSRP of 1199.99.

Andy from Kaos Custom Bikes sent us the following specs on the bike:

The tyres are Nightriders from Unicycle.com as are the Stealth rims.
They are fitted up tubeless using a selection of tape, Stans NoTubes sealant, and bolt in valves
from car wheels.
Removal of the tube saves 600g. The hubs are Hope. the rear is a Pro II single speed fitted with 6 cogs
from a Sram cassette. The group set is SRAM Select with the 2 smallest rings fitted on the front.
Brakes are the new Avid Elixer 5 fitted to Hope rotors. The rotors are 183mm from M4 down hill brakes.
All the tubes in the frame are Straight gauge .9mm wall.
The fork is 35mm legs with 1.5mm wall tubes

Andy claims the bike rides like a dream on the rear wheel.

Like most 36″ers, there is a bit of flex going on. Andy concurs with this saying, “It is a bit flexy when out of the saddle but fine when seated or on the back wheel.
Rides great on the back wheel.” Andy also chimes in with what probably is the number one attribute of riding a 36″er- you get noticed- a lot! Andy says, “For the moment it is really great fun and turns heads big time. Its one of those “mobile phone salute” bikes.” Andy also tells us to look for more on the Kaos Custom Bikes site soon on the 36″er.

Interesting to note that this one has tubeless wheels which I would imagine ups the roll ability of the 36″er dramatically. I have only ridden tubed 36″ers and they can be a chore to get going in part due to the rolling resistance of the tire/tube combination and the weight. Getting 600 grams out of the tires has to help a bit!

Andy tells us this won’t be the last one that Kaos Custom Bikes does either saying, “This is the first one and the next will likely have 1.5mm tubes all round and some other detail changes. Its been a long time since I built my first uni wheel and got the idea.” We’ll have to wait to see more, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see someone else pushing the limits of 36″er technology soon. There just seems to be something there that grabs the imagination of some folks. Whatever it is, it is fun to check out.

These things have kept most 29″er down hill rig dreams just that: Dreams. However; with the advent of longer travel 29″ers, the component manufacturers have started to address the needs of this sort of rig in a way that now makes a 29″er down hill rig even more feasible than ever before. That is not to say it hasn’t been done before. No, there are already 29 inch wheeled down hill rigs out. WaltWorks design comes to mind. However; a new design that is currently being tested is now probably the most promising design with big wheels yet. That is from the mind and hands of Devin Lenz and his LenzSport Bikes company. Check out this rig………

LenzSport prototype DH rig.

Here are some hard numbers on this proto:
* 175mm travel on both ends.
* 14.25″ BB height.
* 65.5* HTA.
* 17.25″ CS.
* 6 speed, 13-28 cassette.
* 38.5# as pictured.

So far the feedback has been very positive, but there are still some challenges ahead. If things get sorted on this front, it may well be the “final frontier” for 29″er bikes and will certainly be a surprise to those who for years said “it can’t be done”. Interesting times for big wheeled fans, to be sure!

The new SRAM XX group features heavily on this bike with American Classics newly updated 29″er wheels which we are hearing are tubeless ready.

Large cross section carbon fiber shapes lead us to think this will be one stiff frame.

The top tube flows seamlessly into the seat stays. Straighter carbon fiber strands are stronger, which Niner also takes advantage of in its new carbon fork.

We’ll post more as we get the information. Stay tuned………

The frame has been undergoing several revisions and now will be offered as a frame with the Curnutt damper at the end of September for an MSRP of $2999.00. There is said to be a Fox RP23 option in the works which is slated to become available in January.

We are working on getting a first ride of the production frame after Eurobike next week. Stay tuned for more……

In other Foes news, the Cyclistsite, our sister website, is working on getting a ride and report on Foes racing’s commuter rig, the Pasadena. Click the links for more.